Info about CHAQS: Official game description: CHAQS is an instructive CTF (Capture The Flag) game that performs the basic functions of an operating system. While it meets your expectations from an operating system to a certain extent with the applications it contains, CHAQS progresses in the direction of more challenges in terms of gameplay. Therefore, it meets the visual needs of the user with its graphical interface, but the terminal creates the entire game aspect of CHAQS. Although all of the terminal commands are written to meet gaming needs, some of them can operate outside of these needs. The prepared challenges do not fully reflect real-world ethical hacking, they are similar. Terminal -------- Terminal is a command-line interpreter that provides a command line user interface for CHAQS. The terminal, which was developed inspired by the Unix shell, is the most important part of the game with dozens of commands and command line utilities. _Terminal commands and utilities :_ alias, apropos, amorse, ascii, audiodecoder, base, binary, brainfuck, calculate, cal, cat, cd, challenges, charon, checksum, clone, cronjob, count, cowsay, cp, cpdir, df, diff, dig, dirbuster, disconnect, dna, dtmf, du, echo, enum4chaqs, execute, exifsm, extract, factor, fibonacci, file, find, free, grep, hash-identifier, head, hex, history, hostname, imager, imap, import, interface, ip, ipconfig, kill, killall, linq2chaqs, logname, ls, man, mandb, mkdir, morse, mousemove, mv, mvdir, nc, neeko, nevr, nyx, permutation, piet, ping, provide, ps, pwd, pwsh+, qrsm, rename, renamedir, rm, rmdir, rot, save, scp, sfc, service, sort, sqlmap, ssh, steg, stegoimage, strings, submit, sysinfo, tac, tail, touch, traceroute, translate, trash, tree, uname, unzip, upload, uptime, wc, wget, whatis, whitespace, whoami, whois, xclip, xor Challenges ---------- Challenges are missions tailored for the game. In order to move on to the next challenge, the answers to the current challenge must be provided. Beginner challenges offer insights that are designed to provide you with the necessary guidance, gracefully and intelligibly. Challenges allow you to interact with all terminal commands and command line utilities. Runtime Compiler ---------------- CHAQS has a runtime compiler that executes a code file of the C# programming language with the execute command. Embedded Browser ---------------- The Browser+ application offers you a CEF-based in-game browser. Functional Programs ------------------- CHAQS has been prepared by deducting your expectations from an operating system. It has programs and widgets such as video player, music player, notepad, photo gallery. Bliss Speech Recognizer ----------------------- Bliss transforms the voice command into action according to predefined methods. Steganography ------------- CHAQS has a comprehensive set of steganography tools with the stegoimage program, which shows the different channel results of images with a graphical interface, and command-line programs such as amorse, audiodecoder, dtmf, steg, strings. Snap Layouts ------------ Snap layouts are a series of predefined zones where you can place each app for quick access. Snap layouts help users arrange applications in five different ways. Keyboard Hook ------------- The keyboard hook allows for easy switching between programs in CHAQS and disables the operating system's native Alt+Tab combination while CHAQS is running. In case the keyboard hook is active, you cannot use the alt and tab keys of the operating system in any way. Automatic API Calls ------------------- Automatic API calls performs an automatic request at the beginning of the game for valid api call files located in the api folder under the Documents directory and shows the request result in the accessibility panel. The provide command allows you to make custom api requests in the game. Weather and Map Services ------------------------ If they are activated in the game settings, the exact location is determined with your IP address, and the weather information in your location is provided and your exact location is displayed on a map. This feature may or may not work dependent on the API provider. Release date: Nov 1, 2022 Categories: Terminal-based Gameplay, Cybersecurity, Command Line Interface, Educational Simulation, Puzzle Solving, Programming Logic, Linux Simulation, Capture The Flag Feature scans: - Proton/Linux: score 10; verdict: Works Well with Specific Audience; summary: The game is highly regarded for its educational value and Linux-based gameplay, making it a valuable tool for those familiar with or learning Linux. However, it may pose challenges for users without prior Linux experience, as it requires knowledge of Linux command line and file systems. - Steam Deck: score 50; verdict: Tinkering Required; summary: The game is highly educational and realistic for those with Linux knowledge, but it presents significant challenges for beginners due to its requirement for Linux command line expertise. The user interface, while mimicking Windows, operates like Linux, leading to some initial confusion. Overall, the game is well-received by those familiar with Linux but may be less accessible to newcomers. - Hardware Profile: No data Feature extractions: - Community Price: No data - Playtime Metrics: - Game completion: N/A - Story completion: N/A - Session length: 2.0h - Endgame: N/A - Reasoning: The evidence provided does not give strong indications of typical playtime metrics. 'Less than 1% of the player-base have finished the entire game' suggests that game completion is rare but does not provide a specific time. 'I played it a couple of hours at first' indicates a session length of around 2 hours. The other quotes mention specific playtimes of 30 minutes and 63 minutes, but these are more anecdotal and related to specific issues rather than typical playtimes. - Time-to-fun: - Summary: The game initially frustrates due to insufficient tutorials but becomes enjoyable as players progress and learn the mechanics. - Stance: Clicks after - Anchor: Understanding game mechanics - Time to anchor: 1h 0m - Friction: Lack of starter guidance; Insufficient tutorial support; Initial confusion with game mechanics - Unlock drivers: Progressing through challenges; Learning game mechanics - Conditions: Passion for technology; Understanding of basics/fundamentals; Patience to learn - Player Archetypes: - Cybersecurity Enthusiast (buy) - Motivation: Realistic and challenging terminal simulation. - Playstyle: Seeks advanced and realistic cybersecurity challenges. - Experience: veteran - Purchase stance: buy - Labels: Linux user; Cybersecurity enthusiast - Reference games: OverTheWire war games; Hacknet; Exapunks - Learning Beginner (sale) - Motivation: Learning and improving Linux and cybersecurity skills. - Playstyle: Seeks a supportive and educational environment. - Experience: newcomer - Purchase stance: sale - Labels: Beginner; Learner - Reference games: Hacknet; Exapunks Below are summaries of things people say about the game per category. Each point is assigned a weight that represents how often it is mentioned across all reviews. What players like: - Realistic and immersive (weight 0.97): The game feels like a real OS and provides realistic hacking simulations. It includes realistic terminal commands and file operations, enhancing the immersive experience. - Good learning environment (weight 0.9): The game provides a safe and effective environment for learning, with a good learning curve. It is particularly useful for those interested in cybersecurity and Linux commands. - Developer support and community (weight 0.72): The developers are friendly, helpful, and quick to respond to questions and issues. The discussion forums are also helpful, and the developers have implemented fixes based on user input. - Positive overall experience (weight 0.62): Players describe the game as quite nice, fun, and enjoyable. It is seen as a good hacking/programming game with potential for learning and enjoyment. - Good concept and execution (weight 0.54): The game has a good concept and is well thought out. It is considered one of the best hacking games by some players. - Beautiful and clean interface (weight 0.46): The game features a beautiful and clean interface that is immersive and pleasant to use. The terminal design is particularly noteworthy. - Challenging and rewarding (weight 0.37): The game offers a variety of programming challenges and tools, making it challenging and rewarding for those with basic development or bash knowledge. - Educational and practical (weight 0.37): The game is educational and provides a good base for Capture The Flag (CTF) challenges. It includes real package analysis programs and disassemblers. - Customization options (weight 0.15): The game offers lots of customization options, allowing players to tailor the experience to their preferences. Common complaints: - Outdated or non-functional commands (weight 0.79): Some commands in the game are either not recognizable, up-to-date, or simply do not work as expected. - Game crashes and bugs (weight 0.56): The game has various bugs and crashes, including random crashes during specific tasks and issues with certain shortcuts. - Insufficient task information (weight 0.54): Some tasks lack enough information and have poor explanations, making them difficult to complete. - Not beginner-friendly (weight 0.48): The game is difficult for beginners due to the requirement of basic Linux command knowledge and constant reference to help menus. - Lack of tutorials and guides (weight 0.38): There is a notable absence of walkthroughs, guides, and tutorials, making it hard for new players to get started. - Ultrawide monitor issues (weight 0.36): Players experience web browser scaling issues and window management problems specifically on ultrawide monitors. - Translation and language issues (weight 0.35): There are poor translations in multiple languages, including Spanish and French, and a lack of a German user interface. - Lack of standard UNIX features (weight 0.35): The game lacks standard UNIX features like the pipe operator and bash expansion, as well as standard UNIX editors. - Mixed educational value (weight 0.34): Players have mixed feelings about the educational value of the game, with some finding it more of a puzzle game than a CTF simulation. - Specific command issues (weight 0.34): There are issues with specific commands and their implementation, causing frustration for players. - Unreliable tab-autocompletion (weight 0.27): The game has issues with the TAB key, with autocompletion almost never working as expected. - Game is no longer supported (weight 0.26): The game is no longer actively worked on or supported, despite being relatively new. - Difficulty curve issues (weight 0.26): The game has a high difficulty curve, making it challenging for both novice and experienced players. - Lack of story and challenges (weight 0.24): The game lacks a visible story and challenges, making it less engaging for players. - Copy/paste functionality issues (weight 0.15): The copy/paste functionality in the game does not work properly, causing inconvenience for players. - Text selection problems (weight 0.14): Text selection in the game is finicky and does not work as smoothly as expected. - Difficulty returning after a break (weight 0.14): It is difficult for players to return to the game after taking a break, due to its complexity and lack of guidance. - Confusing command naming (weight 0.14): The game switches key names between real-world and in-game commands, causing confusion. - Overwhelming number of tasks (weight 0.14): The game has an overwhelming number of tasks, which can be daunting for players. - Lack of standard UNIX editor (weight 0.14): The game does not include a standard UNIX editor, which can be inconvenient for players familiar with UNIX systems. - Requires programming experience (weight 0.14): The game requires C# programming experience, which may limit its accessibility to some players. Gameplay feedback: - Command line interface focus (weight 0.9): The game heavily emphasizes the use of command line interfaces, requiring players to learn and utilize various commands and functionalities similar to Linux shells. - Linux environment simulation (weight 0.73): The game provides a mini Linux environment, simulating a realistic Linux-based system where players can perform various operations and learn about Linux commands and directory structures. - Realistic hacking simulations (weight 0.72): The game offers realistic hacking simulations, including cybersecurity concepts, network protocols, and ethical hacking practices, providing a sandbox environment for learning and applying hacking techniques. - Educational tool for Linux (weight 0.48): The game serves as an educational tool for learning Linux commands, device drivers, and cybersecurity concepts, making it a valuable learning environment for those interested in Linux and ethical hacking. - Puzzle-solving with hacker flavor (weight 0.47): The game is described as a puzzle game with a hacker flavor, requiring players to solve various challenges and tasks that involve hacking and programming concepts. - Variety of tools and tasks (weight 0.45): The game offers a variety of tools and tasks, including package analysis, executable disassembly, and reverse_tcp scripts, providing a comprehensive learning environment for cybersecurity and hacking. - Capture the flag sandbox (weight 0.38): The game features a capture the flag sandbox simulation, providing a variety of challenges and tasks that involve cybersecurity concepts and hacking techniques. - File and folder operations (weight 0.37): Players engage in file manipulation and folder operations, learning how to navigate and manage files within a Linux-like environment. - Challenges involving Linux commands (weight 0.37): The game includes multiple challenges that require knowledge of Unix/Linux commands, making it suitable for those familiar with command-line interfaces. - Learning by doing mentality (weight 0.27): The game encourages a 'learn by doing' mentality, where answers are not spoon-fed, and players must work to find solutions, enhancing the learning experience. - Programming in various languages (weight 0.25): The game involves programming in various languages, including C# and interpreters for esolangs like bf and peit, adding diversity to the learning experience. - Simplified programs and exploits (weight 0.16): The game includes simplified programs and exploits, allowing players to learn and practice hacking techniques in a controlled environment. Performance notes: - Frequent game crashes reported (weight 0.39): Multiple players have reported that the game crashes randomly, particularly during the 2048 game mode and after several hours of gameplay. - Alt-Tab causes game reset (weight 0.16): Players have experienced issues where using Alt-Tab to switch windows resets the game, causing frustration and disruption in gameplay. - Browser scaling problems (weight 0.16): There are issues with the web browser scaling, which affects the user interface and overall user experience. - Media player inconsistencies (weight 0.14): The media player within the game is inconsistent in playing music, leading to a less immersive experience. Recommendations: - Not for beginners or intermediates (weight 0.63): The game is not recommended for beginners or intermediate players due to its complexity and differences from real-world scenarios. It requires a consistent play style and prior knowledge. - Ideal for hacking simulator fans (weight 0.57): This game is highly recommended for those who enjoy hacking simulators and have experience with similar games like Hacknet and Exapunks. It is particularly suited for players looking for a realistic hacking experience. - Best for Linux command knowledge (weight 0.56): Players with a good grasp of Linux command line and file manipulation will find this game more enjoyable and suitable. It is recommended for those familiar with UNIX or Powershell. - Try alternatives instead (weight 0.42): Some players suggest skipping this game and trying alternatives like OverTheWire war games or actual CTFs. These alternatives might offer a better experience for some users. - Good for learning command line (weight 0.37): The game is ideal for complete beginners or those with a little knowledge who want to learn more about the command line in a fun way. It helps in understanding the basics and fundamentals of technology. - Recommended for a new adventure (weight 0.26): This game is highly recommended for everyone looking for a new and exciting adventure. It offers a unique experience that many players find enjoyable. - Recommended for cybersecurity enthusiasts (weight 0.16): The game is recommended for those who enjoy or work in cybersecurity. It offers a unique perspective and learning opportunity for enthusiasts in the field. - Good for starting CTF (weight 0.16): This game is recommended for people who want to start with CTF (Capture The Flag) and Ethical Hacking. It provides a good introduction to these areas. - Recommended despite concerns (weight 0.15): The game is recommended despite some concerns raised by players. This indicates that while there may be issues, the overall experience is still positive. - Refunded but hopeful (weight 0.14): Some players have refunded the game but remain hopeful for future improvements. This suggests that while the current state may not be satisfactory, there is potential for enhancement. - Avoid, potential scam (weight 0.13): Some reviews warn potential buyers to avoid the game, citing it as a scam. This feedback suggests caution before purchasing. - Offers translation support (weight 0.13): The game offers help with Spanish translation or other support, making it accessible to a wider audience. Other player notes: No miscpoints Emotions: - Frustration (weight 0.17): Players experience frustration due to a variety of technical issues and lack of guidance. Common causes include bugs, unreliable key responses, lack of necessary commands and operators, and unclear challenge wording. Additionally, low player activity and difficulties returning to the game after breaks contribute to this frustration. - Excitement (weight 0.15): The game's beautiful interface, customization options, and unique concept generate excitement among players. Its competence in simulating Linux terminal structure and offering a variety of programming challenges are also significant contributors. - Enjoyment (weight 0.12): Players find the game enjoyable due to its fun and realistic Linux-based system. The game's learning environment and ease of following also contribute to the overall enjoyment. - Disappointment (weight 0.12): Disappointment stems from the lack of an active community and further updates from the developers. Game crashes, tutorial issues, lack of story, and a drop in quality after the first level also contribute to this feeling. - Gratitude (weight 0.12): Players feel grateful for the helpful discussion forums and the developer's responsiveness and friendliness. The fundamentals levels that aid in understanding device drivers on Linux also contribute to this emotion. - Hope (weight 0.07): Hope is driven by the potential for future improvements and the release of new content. Players also hope for improvements with an increase in the player base. - Appreciation (weight 0.05): Players appreciate the realistic hacking mechanics and functional commands. The variety of tools and the game's solid performance in a unique genre are also valued. - Confusion (weight 0.02): Confusion arises from the switching of key names between real-world and in-game commands, making it difficult for players to follow along. - Concern (weight 0.02): Concern is primarily due to the lack of developer-player communication and unaddressed bug reports, leaving players worried about the game's future.}